maybe the concern is that a handheld VHF would loose so much signal strength/quality when traveling the longer antenna wire to the masthead versus the bonus of have broadcast/receive ability at a higher line of sight. or maybe the improved range is not worth the money/time of installing on the masthead if you only get a small improvement over a 24' antenna. you get this from boatUS (http://www.boatus.com/boattech/vhf.htm) Fixed-Mount VHF Radios VHF radios are available in both fixed-mount and hand-held models. All fixed-mount VHFs have a maximum output of 25 watts, the maximum allowed by the FCC. VHF is a line-of-sight system, which means the radio waves won't bend to follow the curvature of the earth. The VHF antenna must "see" the antenna of a distant station. Therefore, antenna height is more important in determining range than radio wattage. The effective useful range of a VHF radio is 20-25 miles. Hand-Held VHF Radios VHF handhelds also offer many of the same features found on fixed-mount units. They offer portability in the same way a cordless phone allows more mobility at home. A handheld radio may be just what you need for use in a dinghy, small boat without electrical systems, or as an emergency backup for your boat's radio. Handhelds have a maximum output of six watts. Due to their short antennas, they have a limited range of five miles. A significant increase in range can be achieved by connecting an external antenna or using a telescoping antenna mounted to the hand-held radio. there is also this showing line of sight differences - http://www.qsl.net/kd4sai/distance.html see also the formula for distance of transmission/receiving - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHF i'm all for a test -- someone throw me the money to install a masthead antenna and necessary connections and i'll take my M15 out for a scientific survey. i'll just need another boater-folk to sit at further points and compare signal strength between a handheld 'short antenna v. long antenna v. masthead antenna. come to think of it i'd need enough money to stay on the water through many weather conditions in order to do a proper test and report back to the group ;-) dave scobie M15 #288 (not yet named) Robbin Roddewig <robbin.roddewig@verizon.net> wrote: Hi guys, I am not sure I agree with the gentleman that said that elevating you VHF antenna would be a waste of time. In my spare time I teach graduate courses in electrical engineering and it is a well established rule that elevating both antennas, the mobile and base station, aids in channel strength. If this were not true the cell phone companies would not bother to put their base station antennas on towers. Just a thought. Robbin --------------------------------- Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out.